Namakkal District is an administrative district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The district was bifurcated from Salem District with Namakkal town as Headquarters on 25-07-1996 and started to function independently from 01-01-1997. The district has 4 taluks (subdivisions); Tiruchengode, Namakkal, Rasipuram, Velur and Kolli Hills(in descending order of population) and has two Revenue Divisions; Namakkal and Tiruchengode. It was ranked second in a comprehensive Economic Environment index ranking of districts in Tamil Nadu not including Chennai prepared by Institute for Financial Management and Research in August 2009. It was major source of Tamil Nadu Economy[2] As of 2011, Namakkal district had a population of 1,726,601 with a sex-ratio of 986 females for every 1,000 males.

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After the struggle between the Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas, the Hoysalas rose to power and had the control till the 14th century followed by Vijayanagara Empire till 1565 AD. Then the Madurai Nayakas came to power in 1623 AD. Two of the Poligans of Tirumalai Nayak namely, Ramachandra Nayaka and Gatti Mudaliars ruled the Salem area. The Namakkal fort is reported to have been built by Ramchandra Nayaka. After about 1635 AD, the area came successively under the rule of Muslim Sultans of Bijapur and Golkonda, Mysore kings and then the Marattas, when about the year 1750 AD Hyder Ali came to power. During this period, it was a history of power struggle between Hyder Ali and later Tippu Sultan, with the British.

Namakkal District comes under the North Western Agro climatic zone of Tamil Nadu. It is situated in the dividing portion of two watersheds between Cauvery and the Vellar System with the Taluks of Attur, Rasipuram and Namakkal on the East and Salem, Omalur and Mettur on the West. Tiruchengode taluk alone is placed under Western Agro-climatic zone.[4]

Besides the above two zones, Kolli and a few isolated hills and ridges are scattered over Namakkal, Rasipuram and Tiruchengode and along with the valleys and rolling hills, make up the characteristic topography of the district.

According to 2011 census, Namakkal district had a population of 1,726,601 with a sex-ratio of 986 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929.[5] A total of 150,699 were under the age of six, constituting 78,754 males and 71,945 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 20.% and 3.3% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the district was 68.12%, compared to the national average of 72.99%.[5] The district had a total of 475,511 households. There were a total of 898,245 workers, comprising 152,497 cultivators, 228,614 main agricultural labourers, 35,156 in house hold industries, 422,885 other workers, 59,093 marginal workers, 5,976 marginal cultivators, 25,112 marginal agricultural labourers, 3,641 marginal workers in household industries and 24,364 other marginal workers.[6]

The main occupation in the district is agriculture. The cultivation generally depends on monsoon rains, wells and tanks. Nearly 90 percent of the cultivated area is under food crops. The principal cereal crops of this district are paddy, cholam, cumbu and ragi. Panivaragu, Kuthiraivali, Samai Varagu and Thinai are some of the millets cultivated. Among pulses, the major crops are redgram, blackgram, greengram and horsegram. Among oil seeds groundnut, castor and gingelly (sesame) occupy important places. Of the commercial crops, sugarcane, cotton and tapioca are some of the important crops. Tapioca is used for the manufacture of sago.[7]

Namakkal district is noted for Truck and Lorry external body building which dates back to 1956. Throughout India Tiruchengode is known for its Body Building industry for Trucks, Trailers, Tankers and Rig Unit. Finished trucks and Rig Units are even exported to foreign countries from Namakkal. Nearly 25000 people are employed either directly and indirectly in truck body building activity and about 300 units in Namakkal and 100 Units in Tiruchengode are engaged in this activity.[4]

Poultry development has been rather phenomenal in the district of Namakkal.[7] The district is also well known for its poultry and dairy industries, accounting for a bulk of supply of poultry products to neighbouring industries. In fact, Namakkal produces about 65% of the egg output of Tamil Nadu.[8]

The Rock Fort is on the summit of the rock, and the remnants in brick and stone still bear the brunt of the skirmishes to lay seize to the fort by the Cholas in the 9th Century.[4] There are two rock–cut cave temples located on both sides of the hill dedicated to Narasimhaswamy and Ranganathasamy. There is also an 18 feet tall Hanuman Statue. It is believed that the Hanuman statue keeps growing and to stop the growth a priest put a magic needle at the top of the statue's head. Hanuman statue carved out of a single stone at the Hanuman Temple.[9]

Tiruchengode is 35 km from Namakkal. It is one of the seven Sivasthalams in Kongunadu. The Arthanareeswarar Temple is located on a hill. The presiding deity is depicted as half-male and half-female, vertically to represent Shiva and Parvati worshipped as one form. It is considered one of the oldest temples in this region.

Tiruchegode is the olden Poondurainadu in Kongunadu. Tiruchengode olden name is Thirukodimadachengondurur.

Borewells and Textile are the main business in Tiruchengode. Lorry body building is famous in this place.

Kollimalai Hills are situated on Eastern Ghats at an altitude of 1200 mts in the Namakkal District and are 45 km from Namakkal town. The Kollimalai Hills are known for medicinal herbs and plants that grow in abundance on the hill slopes. The Arapaleswarar Temple, the Horticulture Farm, the Herbal Farm, Agaya Gangai waterfalls, Boat house, Peryaswamy Temple, Ettukai Amman Temple, Pineapple farms,View Point and the Telescope House are the places to visit for the interested tourist.Attukalkilangu soup and raw was selling in this hills .This is very taste and good Medician for knee pain.The Valvil Ori festival is organised here every year during the month of August.[9] manikandan

Transport is the major field of work in Namakkal; Large number of bulk carriers and Lorries run through all over India from Namakkal. In south India 80% bulk carriers operated from here, It covers Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, Maharashtra and other states. A lot of lorry (truck) body building workshops are located in Namakkal. Egg production in this district is large, so transport facilities are good. It is the main centre for linking other districts via bus routes especially to the North side (Salem, Villupuram, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Bangalore), East side (Tiruchirapalli, Thanjavur), South side (Karur, Dindugal, Madurai, Tiunelveli, Kanyakumari) and the West side (Erode, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Udhagamandalam (Ooty))